“Photographs of the lunch posted on social media by Lois Perry, a former leader of the far-right Ukip party who is now the Europe director of the Heartland Institute, were swiftly deleted.”

“A Reform spokesperson said at the time: ‘Liz Truss would not be welcome in Reform UK.’”

“She appears undeterred by this, and said: ‘What I’m now working on is how do we build the infrastructure. How do we build the equivalent of a a Maga movement – a Mega movement. Make England great again.’”

“A spokesperson for Truss said of Reform and the Conservatives: ‘Both parties will be invited to attend.’”

“The spokesperson declined to name any of the ‘major conservative figures’ who will be attending the conference and told the Guardian that names will be announced ‘in the coming weeks and months’.”

“Truss has fallen foul of prominent conservatives recently because of her alleged behaviour on London’s social scene. She became persona non grata at top Tory haunt the exclusive members’ club 5 Hertford Street after irritating its owners by wandering the premises in search of members to poach for her own rival club just one street away, which asks ‘founding members’ for an eye-watering £500,000.”